More Light, Less Crime.

Manawatu Herald, 22 October 1904, Page 3

More Light, Less Crime.

Whatever may be its failing, full justice has yet to be done, says the Electrical Magazine, to the street lamp as a check on crime and criminals. Police officials and statisticians are silent as a whole in giving credit to this silent nocturnal * guardian of public property, this champion of civic integrity. It remains for some isolated though exalted functionary to raise his voice in giving credit to the “ father of electric lights,” and his work in cities of damping the ardour of " ‘ttonld-be criminals. Police Commissioner McAdoo, of New York, baa recently remarked on lighting the streets in that city. “ I have always believed that light would prevent a great deal of disorderly conduct at night in certain streets. ' I do hot believe there is anything which would rid us of illegal resorts and clean up certain streets as would ' ffghl.'' If I had charge of lighting New York as well as protecting it, I would at least double the light. I know a place before which a big light was put. The proprietors practically got down on their knees to Slave it removed. I would apply the ight remedy.” We need some authoritative statement from our cfiief custodians on the subject of plpptrip street lighting and its infiuhnce on crime. The East End stations have been running some time now, and there is ample opportunity for collecting evidence. With this, as with many other things, we repeat, “ Let there be light.”